Are elephant ears a good indoor plant?
The quick answer is yes, elephant ears can be grown indoors. You will however, need some space for the plant and be able to mimic the tropical environmental conditions this aroid thrives in. Plan ahead for the perfect warm, light space that you can provide with plenty of humidity. The common name, elephant ear, is fitting. This species is a giant in the plant kingdom, especially when they are used as houseplants. Their leaves alone can grow to 3 feet wide, with the plant itself growing 2-3 feet wide and 2-6 feet tall.Dividing & Transplanting: Elephant ears reproduce via offsets and seeds. Seeds are rare unless you hand-pollinate the plants. When you purchase elephant ears, you’ll receive a big corm. If you dig the corm up in the fall after a season of growth, you’ll see smaller offsets forming.Generally, it is recommended to water your Elephant ear plant once a week during the growing season and reduce the frequency to every two to three weeks during the dormant season. It is important to avoid letting the soil dry out completely between waterings.In terms of light, elephant ears almost uniformly need full to partial sun. A few varieties can handle more shade. Check the plant descriptions when shopping. While Elephant Ears perform best in full-sun, many gardeners in hot and humid climates are able to treat them as a shade plant.
What is the lifespan of an indoor elephant ear?
With proper care, elephant ear plants can thrive indoors for many years. Here’s how to help yours thrive: Water when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Place your elephant ear plant in bright room, they love bright indirect light. How to Transplant Elephant Ear? Ideal time, Methods, and Post Care) To ensure elephant Ear thrives, transplant during mid to late spring or mid to late fall, as these seasons provide optimal growing conditions. Choose a location offering indirect sunlight and well-draining soil.Well-draining soil will help shed water and prevent overwatering. Let the soil dry out before watering if you suspect the plant has been overwatered. Container-grown Elephant Ears will need very regular watering, so expect to water the plant daily. Check the soil and water if the soil is slightly damp but mostly dry.Well-draining soil rich in organic matter, like compost or manure, are good options for elephant ears. A water-soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer is a good option that provides a good balance of nutrition. You can also use all-purpose miracle grow to feed elephant ears plants.Elephant Ear prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.Liquid glyphosate formulations have been effective on elephant ear above the water line, but ineffective on plants in the water. They are broad spectrum, systemic herbicides.
What are the disadvantages of elephant ear plants?
Elephant’s ear plants flourish in bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight, however, can scorch their large, delicate leaves, leaving them discolored and damaged. Conversely, insufficient light can cause the leaves to become sparse and can lead to legginess as the plant stretches towards light sources. Water: Elephant ears thrive in moist soil, so it’s important to water the bulbs regularly. Wait until the top inch of soil is dry before watering again, and plan on giving the plants at least 2-3 inches of water per week.Elephant ears can be pruned to keep them healthy. Remove yellowing or dying leaves by cutting them off at the bottom of the stem with a sharp knife. Leaves may droop as they age. Drooping leaves may also be cut off.Elephant ears can be stored indoors during the winter months and then planted back in the garden or in a container next spring. Before or just after the first hard freeze, cut back the foliage of your bulb and dig it up from the soil, being careful not to damage the actual bulb.Be patient. It can take three to eight weeks for leaves to emerge depending on the temperature and soil moisture. Move the Elephant Ears to a sunny window or under artificial lights as soon as any green appears. Wait for the soil to warm and the danger of frost to pass before moving the plants outdoors.Hardiness Zones 1-6 If you’re in Zones 1-6, this means you will need to bring your Elephant Ears inside for the winter. It’s a fairly simple process: After your first frost, cut the stems to about 6 inches tall.
Should I put coffee grounds in my Elephant Ear plant?
Good choices for a coffee ground treatment are moisture-loving plants like hibiscus, elephant ear, forget-me-not, iris, lily of the valley, marigold, and meadowsweet. Acidic-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and roses will benefit from a sprinkling of coffee grounds around the base of plants. Vegetable crops that may benefit from coffee grounds include carrots, cucumbers, peppers, potatoes, and radishes.However, there are some plants that you should avoid using coffee grounds on. Plants that prefer alkaline soil, like lavender and lilacs, can be harmed by the acidity of coffee grounds. Plants that are sensitive to caffeine, such as geraniums and some herbs, can also be affected by the presence of coffee grounds.Good choices for a coffee ground treatment are moisture-loving plants like hibiscus, elephant ear, forget-me-not, iris, lily of the valley, marigold, and meadowsweet.In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.Good choices for a coffee ground treatment are moisture-loving plants like hibiscus, elephant ear, forget-me-not, iris, lily of the valley, marigold, and meadowsweet.
Do elephant ear bulbs need full sun?
Many types of elephant ears can be grown in partial shade, but the darker colored varieties are best grown in full sun. All need rich, moist soil and nearly all are perfect at the edge of a pond. When to Plant: Elephant ear tubers will not grow in cold soil. Wait to plant them outdoors until the soil temperature is at least 65ºF. In northern climates this will be early June. To get a jump on the season, elephant ears may be started in pots indoors, 4 to 6 weeks before you plan to put them outside.Both pots and plants keep getting bigger and more spectacular. Along with canna lilies, ornamental grasses and even bananas, one of the most popular plants for these outsize containers is elephant ears.In terms of light, elephant ears almost uniformly need full to partial sun. A few varieties can handle more shade. Check the plant descriptions when shopping. While Elephant Ears perform best in full-sun, many gardeners in hot and humid climates are able to treat them as a shade plant.With proper care, elephant ear plants can thrive indoors for many years. Here’s how to help yours thrive: Water when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Place your elephant ear plant in bright room, they love bright indirect light.